· Invasive species taken over areas they are not native to can cause significant changes to ecosystems, upset the ecological balance, and cause economic harm to our nation's agricultural and recreational sectors.
· For example, Zebra mussels introduced into the Great Lakes in the ballast water of cargo ships have colonized water pipes, boat hulls, and other surfaces, wreaking havoc on water systems, transportation, and native shellfish.
· Each year, approximately $23 billion nationwide is lost to the effects of invasive plants on agriculture, industry, recreation, and the environment.
· An estimated 4600 acres of land are invaded daily by invasive plants.
Solution (Supporting Details)
· Sustainable restaurants (Invasive species, local ingredients, population control of fish)
· Place a percentage of revenue generated back into research on maintaining invasive species
· Personal owners offered grants funded by that state to encourage sustainable options USDA grants
· GRA has been certifying restaurants for the past two decades Green restaurant comprehensive and user-friendly method of rewarding existing restaurants & foodservice operations with points in each of the GRA’s Seven Environmental Categories
· Water Efficency
· Waste Reduction and Recycling
· Sustainable Furnishing and Building Materials
· Sustainable Food
· Energy
· Disposables
· Chemical and Pollution Reduction
· Monetery Bay aquiriam currently offers seafood watch pocket guides that make recommendations on fish to buy based on over population rates, invasive characteristics, etc.
· Wateracress, garlic mustard, wintercress
· Garlic Mustard challenge 8,755 lbs of the plant were plucked from Maryland
· Asian Carp, Caiman Croc, Ta’Ape, Ring Neck Pheasent, Feral Hogs
· It is estimated that about 138 billion dollars a year is spent as the research cost, projects taken up for conservation, cost of labor, losses in crop and for the heavier price tags of chemicals in the anti invasive species eradication.
· Large companies like Monsanto help to share the hefty expenditure in establishing the Plant Councils for Exotic Pests.
· Current solutions such as invasive plant calendars offer easy education on subject, management programs to seek out and destroy species,
Problem
· Invasive species taken over areas they are not native to can cause significant changes to ecosystems, upset the ecological balance, and cause economic harm to our nation's agricultural and recreational sectors.
· For example, Zebra mussels introduced into the Great Lakes in the ballast water of cargo ships have colonized water pipes, boat hulls, and other surfaces, wreaking havoc on water systems, transportation, and native shellfish.
· Each year, approximately $23 billion nationwide is lost to the effects of invasive plants on agriculture, industry, recreation, and the environment.
· An estimated 4600 acres of land are invaded daily by invasive plants.
Solution (Supporting Details)
· Sustainable restaurants (Invasive species, local ingredients, population control of fish)
· Place a percentage of revenue generated back into research on maintaining invasive species
· Personal owners offered grants funded by that state to encourage sustainable options USDA grants
· GRA has been certifying restaurants for the past two decades Green restaurant comprehensive and user-friendly method of rewarding existing restaurants & foodservice operations with points in each of the GRA’s Seven Environmental Categories
· Water Efficency
· Waste Reduction and Recycling
· Sustainable Furnishing and Building Materials
· Sustainable Food
· Energy
· Disposables
· Chemical and Pollution Reduction
· Monetery Bay aquiriam currently offers seafood watch pocket guides that make recommendations on fish to buy based on over population rates, invasive characteristics, etc.
· Wateracress, garlic mustard, wintercress
· Garlic Mustard challenge 8,755 lbs of the plant were plucked from Maryland
· Asian Carp, Caiman Croc, Ta’Ape, Ring Neck Pheasent, Feral Hogs
· It is estimated that about 138 billion dollars a year is spent as the research cost, projects taken up for conservation, cost of labor, losses in crop and for the heavier price tags of chemicals in the anti invasive species eradication.
· Large companies like Monsanto help to share the hefty expenditure in establishing the Plant Councils for Exotic Pests.
· Current solutions such as invasive plant calendars offer easy education on subject, management programs to seek out and destroy species,
Sea Food Pocket Guide
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx
GRA Accreditation
http://www.dinegreen.com/restaurants/standards.asp
Garlic Mustard Article
http://botany.suite101.com/article.cfm/garlic_mustard#ixzz0mXQRbsbL
US Department of Transportation Invasive Species
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/marapr00/invasiv1.htm